Solid smooth-surface article washing device

ABSTRACT

A SOLID SMOOTH-SURFACE ARTICLE WASHING DEVICE COMPRISING A FLAT TOP WASH FLUID RESERVIOR WITH TWO INVERTED FURSTO-CONICAL CASINGS MOUNTED ONE INSIDE THE OTHER ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE RESERVOIR. A WASH FLUID IMPELLER IS ARRANGED WITHIN THE RESERVOIR WITH THE BODY THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL OF THE WASH FLUID THEREIN AND IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE RELATIVELY NARROW END OF THE INNER CASING. THE ARTICLE TO BE WASHED IS SUSPENDED ABOVE THE RELATIVELY WIDE END OF THE INNER   CASING. WHEN ACTIVATED, THE IMPELLER MOVES THE WASH FLUID UPWARDLY WITHIN THE INNER CASING IN A SPIRALING ROTARY PATTERN TO FLOW OUTWARDLY OVER THE SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE BEING WASHED. ON LEAVING THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE ARTICLE BEING WASHED, THE FLUID CONTINUES TO MOVE OUTWARDLY UNTIL IT CONTACTS THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE OUTER CASING WHEREUPON IT DRAINS BACK INTO THE FLUID RESERVOIR THROUGH A CHAMBER FORMED BETWEEN THE CASINGS.

C. A. HULL Aug. 27, 1974 SOLID SMOOTH-SURFACE ARTICLE WASHING DEVICEOriginal Filed larch 27. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C AMORY HULL522W c. A. HULL R0. 28,135

SOLID SHOOTH'SURFACE ARTICLE WASHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled larch 2'7, 1968 INVENTOR c. AMORY HULL Aug. 27, 1974 c. A. HULLR0. 28,135

SOLID SMOOTH-SURFACE ARTICLE WASHING DEVICE Original Filed larch 27.1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F l G. 4

HOT WATER SUPPLY 5a g 34 5? 56 34 F l G. 5

FILL RESERWNR INVENTOR C.AMORY HULL 35a XL START WASHING CYCLE y UnitedStates Patent 28,135 SOLID SMOOTH-SURFACE ARTICLE WASHING DEVICE CharlesAmory Hull, Daytona Beach, Fla. (58 Brook Drive, Ormond Beach, Fla.32074) Original No. 3,514,329, dated May 26, 1970, Ser. No. 716,549,Mar. 27, 1968. Application for reissue May 22, 1972, Ser. No. 255,870

Int. Cl. 130% 3/00 US. Cl. 134-58 D 7 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets [1 appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A solid smooth-surface article washing devicecomprising a flat top wash fluid reservoir with two invertedfrusto-conical casings mounted one inside the other on the top surfaceof the reservoir. A wash fluid impeller is arranged within the reservoirwith the body thereof substantially below the liquid level of the washfluid therein and in vertical alignment with the relatively narrow endof the inner casing. The article to be washed is suspended above therelatively wide end of the inner casing. When activated, the impellermoves the wash fluid upwardly within the inner casing in a spiralingrotary pattern to flow outwardly over the surface of the article beingwashed. On leaving the peripheral edge of the article being washed, thefluid continues to move outwardly until it contacts the inner side wallof the outer casing whereupon it drains back into the fluid reservoirthrough a chamber formed between the casings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to solidsmooth-surface article washing devices and more particularly to a dishwasher adapted to wash dishes one at a time.

In conventional dish washers, a relatively large area is provided forstacking a large number of dishes and other items incident to theserving of meals. In some dish washers, means are provided for rotatingthe stacked dishes, etc., past a plurality of spray nozzles. In otherdish washer arrangements, the nozzle array is rotated past the stackeddishes. In order to assure a satisfactory washing of the stackedarticles when using either of the above arrangements, it has been foundnecessary to utilize relatively prolonged increments of time for thewash and rinse cycles. More recently, relatively small versions of theconventional type of dish washers specially designed to accommodate onlya few dishes have been made available on the open market but these dishwashers still require a stacking of the articles to be washed with theabove-noted disadvantage of prolonged timing cycles.

These disadvantages are overcome by the device disclosed by the presentinvention wherein the dishes are washed one at a time. The invention,while seemingly quite simple, nevertheless affords an important advancein the art of dish washers in that it provides a device adapted for thedaily needs of a small family and/or for those persons whose dailyliving routine results in a need for a dish washer at somewhatinfrequent intervals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dish washer herein disclosed contemplatesthe individual washing of each soiled item of tableware. An advantage ofsuch a concept is that the dish washing device can be of extremely smallover-all size and the operating parts thereof can be arranged for thevery best and etficient cleaning of the individual items of tableware.In addition, the amounts of heated wash fluids and rinsing fluidsutilized in the operation of the device are greatly reduced as well askeeping the time of each cycle of the washing operation at a minimum. Afurther advantage is that an opportunity is provided to inspect eachwashed article for cleanliness when it is removed from the device at theconclusion of each individual washing operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher whereinthe advantages noted above are inherent from its mode of operation.Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from thehereinafter detailed description.

According to this invention, each article to be washed is placed in thedevice above and in vertical alignment with an impeller which, whenactivated, impells the wash fluid spiraling upwardly with a rotatingpattern against a surface of the article to be washed. On contacting thesurface to be washed, the rotating pattern of the wash fluid continuesand causes the same to leave the peripheral edge of the article andimpinge on the inside wall of a casing forming part of the overallenclosure of the device. The wash fluid then flows downwardly andreturns to the wash fluid reservoir through a peripheral chamberadjacent the inside wall of the casing. When the impeller isdeactivated, clean rinse water is directed against the article beingwashed through a pair of spray nozzles, one arranged above and anotherbelow the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The novel features which are consideredas characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in theappended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and method of operation, will be best understood from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a dish washing device according tothe invention.

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view, partly in section, taken along the line2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view in perspective showing a preferred form of theimpeller together with a spray nozzle mounted thereabove on the upperend of the impeller drive shaft.

FIG. 4 is a mechanical schematic view showing the fluid supply passagesto various elements of the device and the arrangement in these passagesof solenoid operated valves for controlling liquid flow therethrough.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic view of the timing device for thesequential operation and control of the various parts of the deviceaccording to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughoutthe various views, the numeral 10 indicates the major portion of theover-all enclosure for the device. Specifically, it may be described asa casing which is inverted and elongated frusto-conical in shape. Thecasing 10 is secured by suitable means to and extends above the topcover 11 of a wash fluid supply reservoir 12 having a peripheral sidewall 13 and a base plate 14. Wings 14a atiixed to the base plate 14serve to prevent excessive swirling of wash fluid within the reservoirwhen the impeller 20 is activated.

At the center of the base of the reservoir 12, a rotatable shaft 15 isiournaled at 16 and extends into the reservoir. Sealing means areprovided at 17 to prevent eakage of fluid from the reservoir. Thejournal 16 in- :ludes a further sealing means (not shown) whereby inseliquid conduit 18 is placed in throughflow connecion with the centralhollow portion 19 of shaft 15. An mpeller 20 is secured on that part ofshaft 15 within he reservoir 12. A form of impeller particularly adapted'or the needs of this invention is shown in detail in FIG. l. The upperend portion of shaft 15 above the impeller 20 serves as a mounting meansfor a spray nozzle 21 vhich, in turn, receives rinse fluid throughconduit 18 and he hollow portion 19 of shaft 15. The lower end of shaftbelow the journal 16 is equipped with a drive pulley B2 and a furtherbearing means 23. A motor M, together with a belt 24, serves as thedriving means for shaft 15.

The wash liquid reservoir 12 is provided with three :onduit connections25, 26 and 27 which are for the Jurpose of supplying liquid to thereservoir, to drain liq- Jid from the reservoir, and a liquid leveloverflow, respectively. The supply and drain conduits 25 and 26,

respectively, as well as the conduit 18, are equipped with H suitablevalves in order to open or close the conduits as the need may be duringthe operation of the device. These valves are indicated in FIGS. 4 and5, and their operation will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Arranged within the casing and supported in spaced apart relationthereto is a second similarly shaped casing 28 of less overall verticallength than the casing 10. The casing 28 is supported in the positionshown by a plurality of radially extending wings 28a and both casingsare so arranged above the reservoir 12 that the relatively narrow endopenings of the casings are in substantial horizontal alignment, andwith the centers of the said openings directly above and in line withthe center line of shaft 15. Further, the upper edges of the wings ofimpeller and the lower edge of casing 28 are closely adjacent, and thenozzle 21 is within the lower portion of casing 28. The above describedrelationship between these parts is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Aperipheral chamber 43 is formed between the side wall 10a of casing 10and the sidewall 28b of casing 28.

The inner surface of casing 10 above the relatively wide upper endopening of casing 28 may be provided with a plurality of lugs 29 adaptedto support a wire mesh or otherwise substantially perforate[imperforate] tray 30 (shown in phantom since the exact form and shapethereof may vary in many ways) into which a solid smooth-surface articleto be washed may be placed. The upper edge of the relatively wideportion of casing 10 is fitted with a dome-shape cover 31, the samebeing moveably secured thereto through a hinge means 32. A sealing ring32a is arranged between the bottom edge of the cover and the upper edgeof the casing 10 to insure a fluid tight joint therebetween. The underside of the cover at its center is fitted with a downwardly directedspray nozzle 33 and a throughflow passage thereto is provided throughthe cover to a conduit 34. A suitable valve to open or close conduit 34is provided and its proper sequence of operation is shown in FIGS. 4 and5. Such operation will be explained hereinafter. The cover 31 is alsoprovided with a latch means 35 which may also include, in the preferredembodiment, an electrical switch means 35a through which the sequentialtiming of the various cycles incident to the device according to thisinvention is instigated in a manner to be fully explained hereinafter inconnection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

The mode of operation of the device will now be described with referencebeing made particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5 which show a mechanicalschematic representation of the subject invention, and an electricalschematic representation of an arrangement for controlling the preferredsequence of operations of the device, respectively.

As will be seen from FIG. 5, the timing motor TM is at rest and allcircuits to the associated and controlled equipment, motor M, solenoidvalve 37, and solenoid valve 38, are open. When it is desired to wash ahard smooth-surface article in this device, solenoid valve 36 isactivated by closing switch 36a thereby opening conduit 25 to permit hotwater to flow into the reservoir 12. When an overflow is noted from openconduit 27, the switch 36a is released and solenoid valve 36 once morecloses conduit 25.

A suitable amount of detergent is then added manually to the fluid nowin reservoir 12 to make up the wash fluid recited in the appendedclaims. Next, an article to be washed is placed in the tray 30 (FlG. l)and the cover 31 is closed and latched. The latching of the covermomentarily closes switch a, included as part of the cover latch asmentioned above, and starts the running of motor TM for driving thetiming switch schematically represented in FIG. 5 by the segmented ringsand 41 and the contact arms 40a and 41a associated therewith.

As soon as the timing motor TM begins to run, continuing power for afull revolution of shaft 42 driven thereby is provided through the arm41a and the ring 41 associated therewith. At the same time, the switcharm 40a moves into contact with the relatively long section of ring 40associated therewith and closes a circuit to activate the motor M whichdrives the impeller 20. Thus, the wash fluid is impelled upwardly withinthe casing 28 and returns to the reservoir in the manner previouslydescribed. As the arm 40a moves off the long section of ring 40, theimpeller driving motor M is deactivated, and as the arm continues itsmovement, it consecutively contacts a plurality of short segments ofring 40- thereby activating solenoid valve 37 to consecutively open andclose the conduit 18 leading to the now stationary nozzle 21 a pluralityof times, three being illustrated. Each time the conduit .18 is opened,a flow of clean rinse water from the hot water source is directed by thenozzle 21 against the adjacent surface of the article in tray 30. Afterthe switch arm 40a moves from the last of the segments of ring 40connected to the solenoid valve 37, it next consecutively contacts anadditional plurality of short segments of the ring 40 connected tosolenoid valve 38, each of which consecutively opens and closes conduit34 leading to nozzle 33 depending from the inside of cover 31. Each timethe conduit 34 is opened, a flow of clean rinse water from the hot watersupply is directed by the nozzle 33 against the side of the article intray 30 adjacent to that nozzle. After leaving the last of the segmentsof ring 40 connected to solenoid valve 3 8, the arm 40a continue itsmovement until just before it reaches the above-mentioned relativelylong section of the ring 40. Movement of the shaft 42 driving the arm40a is stopped at this time by the arm 41a running off the continuouspart of ring 41 thus stopping the running of the timing motor TM.

When the device shuts down as described above, the cover is opened andthe washed article removed from tray 30 and may be inspected forcleanliness. When another article is placed in the tray and the cover 31once more closed and latched, the washing and rinsing steps set forthabove are repeated by the associated reactivation of the timing motorTM. The wash fluid may be drained from the reservoir 12 at theconclusion of any individual article washing cycle by closing switch 39awhich energizes solenoid valve 39 to open conduit 26 whereupon the washfluid in reservoir 12 passes to the waste connection.

It is to be noted that the described and illustrated arrangement of thecasing parts 10 and 28 forms a pcripheral hollow chamber 43, the lowerrelatively narrow end thereof being in substantially horizontalalignment with the lower narrow end of each of the respective casingsand, accordingly, communicating with the wash fluid reservoir; that anywell known practice, either by mechanical automation or manual act, foradding a detergent to any household hot tap water and thereby obtain asuitable wash fluid is included in the reference to a wash fluid supplyas that term is used herein; and that any household hot water tap willsuffice as a suitable source of a rinse fluid as that term is usedherein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A solid smooth-surface article washing device comprising a wash fluidsupply reservoir,

a first inverted and elongated substantially frusto-conical casinghaving an inner side wall, the casing being aflixed to the wash fluidsupply reservoir with its relatively narrow end opening into saidreservoir,

a second inverted but less elongated substantially frusto-conical casinghaving an outer side wall, said second casing being arranged within andspaced apart from said first casing and forming therewith a peripheralchamber between the said inner and outer side walls of the casings, therelatively narrow end of the chamber communicating with said reservoir,

means for supplying wash fluid to the reservoir,

a substantially perforate [imperforate] tray adapted to support thereinan article to be washed, the tray being arranged within the upperrelatively wide portion of the first casing and above the upper wide endportion of the second casing,

means for supporting said tray above the upper wide end portion of thesecond casing,

an impeller, including a drive shaft to which it is affixed, adapted forrotation and mounted within said reservoir in axial alignment with thesaid narrow end opening of said second casing, the diameter of saidimpeller being less than the inner diameter of said peripheral chamberat its point of communication with said reservoir,

:1 rinse fluid supply means,

a first and a second spray nozzle arranged within said casings fordispensing rinse fluid to and against opposite surfaces of an articlesupported in said tray, and

means for rotating the impeller drive shaft whereby wash fiuid fromwithin the reservoir is impelled by the impeller upwardly within thesecond casing in a substantially spiraling and rotating pattern to andagainst an adjacent surface of an article supported in said tray.

2. An article washing device according to claim 1, in which the washfluid on impinging with said spiraling and rotating pattern against thesurface of an article supported in said tray, continues its rotatingpattern outwardly along said surface to the periphery thereof and, onleaving the periphery, strikes against the said inside wall of saidfirst casing and thereafter flows downwardly through the said peripheralchamber into the said wash fluid supply reservoir.

3. An article washing device according to claim 1, in which said firstspray nozzle is directed upwardly and arranged on the impeller shaftabove the impeller, and including also a rinse fluid conducting meanswithin said impeller drive shaft whereby rinse fluid is conducted fromthe rinse fluid supply means to and through said first nozzle againstone surface of an article supported in said tray.

4. An article washing device according to claim 1, including also acover moveably supported on the upper relatively wide end portion ofsaid first casing and having a latch means for securing the samethereto, the second spray nozzle being supported from the underside ofsaid cover at the center thereof and directed downwardly, and a rinsefluid conducting means carried by the cover whereby rinse fluid isconducted from the rinse fluid supply means to and through said secondnozzle against another surface of an article supported in said tray.

5. An article washing device according to claim 4, in which the cover,the wall of the first casing, and the walls of the wash fluid reservoir,together form a total enclosure for the device.

6. An article washing device according to claim 4, including also anautomatic timing means for individually actuating in sequence (a) therotation of the wash fluid impeller, (b) the dispensing of rinse fluidthrough said first spray nozzle, and (c) the dispensing of rinse fluidthrough said second spray nozzle, said automatic timing means beingactivated by means operable upon the closing and latching of the saidcover.

I. An article washing device according to claim 1, in which the rotationof the impeller and the dispensing of rinse fluid through the said firstand second spray nozzles are individually activated in sequence.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,624,381 4/1927 Barker 134-99 2,030,092 2/1936Benson 134-186 X 3,285,779 11/1966 Dunham 13499 X FOREIGN PATENTS355,266 10/1961 Switzerland l34580 ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. x3. 134-95, 99, 177, 182, 200

